Demountable reel with blocking device

ABSTRACT

Demountable reel with blocking device, the reel comprising a central cylindrical body and two discs with a larger diameter on the ends of the central body, the ends of the latter having transversal flanges, while each disc has a annular groove with pairs of coupling sections, each one having an entry section and a retaining section, the reel having in the coupling of each disc to the central body at least one blocking device with a blocking body with a fixing section and a blocking extension, said blocking body being adapted to move and couple onto one of the discs in a corresponding housing, in such a way that the blocking extension is positioned transversally in one of the entry sections of the annular groove of the disc, restricting the turning movement of the central body with respect to the disc and consequently preventing the central body from being separated from the disc.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a demountable reel with blocking device, of the type comprising a central hollow cylindrical body and two discs with a larger diameter on the ends of the central cylindrical body used, in particular, for winding a strip of staples of the type used for sealing sausages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of demountable reels of the abovementioned type are known to be used for winding a strip of staples for sealing sausages. Patent document ES 200300362 for a “Demountable Reel” by the same applicant, describes a demountable reel made up by a central hollow cylindrical body, formed by two identical semi-cylindrical halves joined together, and by two essentially flat discs on the bases of the central body; the cylindrical halves have flanges on their ends which projects transversally, while each disc has on its inner surface a annular groove adapted to receive the flanges of one of the ends of the central body, all this being adapted in such a way that the central body remains fixed to each disc by a wedge effect produced by the coupling of the flanges to the annular groove.

In tests carried out by the inventor, there is particular relevance for the need to ensure that the discs cannot be separated accidentally from the central body of the reel, in certain working conditions.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The demountable reel with blocking device being the object of the invention, comprises a central hollow cylindrical body and two essentially flat discs with a larger diameter and with central openings in the ends of the central hollow cylindrical body, the ends of the central body having transversal flanges, while each disc has a annular groove with pairs of coupling sections positioned successively, there being no fewer than the number of flanges, each pair of coupling sections having an entry section, adapted to hold the flange inside the annular groove, all this so that the movement of the flanges from the entry section to the retaining section, or vice-versa, is done by turning the central body with respect to the disc.

The demountable reel being the object of the invention is characterized in that the coupling of each disc to the central body comprises at least one blocking device with a blocking body made up by a single part with a fixing section and a blocking extension, said blocking body being adapted to be removably coupled onto one of the discs in a corresponding housing made so that when the central body is coupled to a disc, in a position in which the flanges of the central body occupy the retaining sections of the annular groove of the disc, a blocking body can be inserted in the corresponding housing of the disc, in such a way that the blocking extension of the blocking body is positioned transversally in one of the entry sections of the annular groove of the disc, restricting the turning movement of the central body with respect to the disc and consequently preventing the central body from being separated from the disc, unless the blocking device is removed.

Another characteristic of the demountable reel of the invention is that the housing used in each disc to receive a blocking body is made in such a way that, once inserted in the housing, the blocking body remains there without protruding from the surface of the inner face of the disc.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the housing used in each disc comprises a through hole, adapted to receive the fixing section of the blocking body, which has means of fixing by pressing in the through hole, said fixing section being accessible from the outer surface of the disc to facilitate the removal of the blocking body by exerting pressure from the outer surface of the disc onto the fixing section.

According to another particular feature of the invention, each retaining section of the annular groove is restricted, at its end opposite to that of the entry section, by a fixed stop, which forms part of the disc.

According to another aspect of the invention, the fixed stop that restricts the annular groove in its end opposite to the entry section, is made up by a gradual narrowing of said groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings illustrate a non-restrictive example of a form of embodiment of the demountable reel with blocking device being the object of the invention. In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two halves of the central body of the demountable reel with blocking device of the invention, in a position prior to being coupled together.

FIG. 2, is a plan view of one of the discs of the demountable reel with blocking device of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the components of the demountable reel with blocking device of the invention, in a position prior to being coupled together; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the demountable reel with blocking device of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 4, it can be seen how the demountable reel with blocking device 1 being the object of the invention which, as an example of embodiment as described, comprises a hollow central body 2, two essentially flat discs 3 that can be coupled to the ends of the central body 2 and a blocking device 4, which is used to prevent the two discs 3 from separating from the central body 2.

In FIG. 1, it can be seen how the central body 2 is formed by two identical semi-cylindrical halves 5 with corresponding and complementary means for coupling on their longitudinal edges, which consist, on one of the longitudinal edges of each half 5, in a groove 6 with a transversal section in the form of a “v” which extends along the length of the half 5, and on the other longitudinal edge in a rib 7 with a transversal section in the form of a “v” which matches with the groove 6 and which also extends along the length of the half 5, all this adapted so that, to couple the two semi-cylindrical halves 5 together, all that is required is to face them up by introducing the rib 7 of each half 5 in the groove 6 facing the other half 5, the central body 2 being configured as shown in FIG. 4. The central body 2 explained is given as an example only; it is understood that the central body 2 may be formed from different elements and may even be made up of a single section.

Each semi-cylindrical half 5 has on each of its bases a transversal flange 8 which is centred and which projects outwards transversally, and two half transversal flanges 8, indicated as 8′ in FIGS. 1 and 3, on respective ends of the base, all this adapted so that when both semi-cylindrical halves 5 are coupled to form the central body 2, each of the bases of the central body 2 thus formed have four identical transversal flanges 8 between them.

In FIG. 2, it can be seen that each of the two discs 3 has a concentric annular groove 10 on their inner surface 9 with four pairs of coupling sections positioned successively. Each pair of coupling sections comprises an entry section 11 and a retaining section 12, whose entry section 11 is made to allow a transversal flange 8 of the central body 2 to be inserted or removed, while the retaining section 12 has a retaining projection 13 and is made to hold the transversal flange 8 inside the annular groove 10. To couple the central body 2 to one of the discs 3 all that is required is to insert the transversal flanges 8 of a base of the central body 2 in respective entry sections 11 of the disc 3, and subsequently to turn the central body 2 with respect to the disc 3 until the four transversal flanges 8 are positioned simultaneously in the retaining sections 12, where the retaining projections 13 prevent at least the central body 2 and the disc 3 from separating from each other in the direction determined by the longitudinal axis of the central body 2; coupling of the central body 2 to the other disc 3 is done in the same way as described.

Naturally, instead of having a concentric annular groove 10, each disc may have as many grooves, in a circumference arc, as there are transversal flanges 8 on each central body 2. This variation is, therefore, considered completely interchangeable as it does not affect the essential features of the invention.

The blocking device 4, which is on the reel of the invention, comprises two identical blocking bodies 14 which can be coupled to respective discs 3 by means of corresponding housings 15 on the inner surface 9 of the discs 3, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

Each blocking body 14 has an essentially elongated prismatic form and, longitudinally, has a blocking extension 16 and, transversally, a fixing section 17. Each housing 15 is made to receive a blocking body 14 so that, as represented in FIG. 4, once the blocking body 14 is coupled to the housing 15, the blocking body 14 remains level with the inner surface 9 of the disc 3; and the fixing section 17 of the blocking body 14 is pressed into a through hole 18 provided for this purpose in the housing 15, and so that, as represented in FIG. 4, it remains accessible from the outside of the demountable reel with blocking device 1 of the invention, the aim of all of this being to facilitate handling of the blocking body 14 during assembly or disassembly of the reel. In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the housing 15 opens into one of the entry sections 11 of the annular groove 10, all this adapted as shown also in detail in FIG. 4, so that when the blocking body 14 is coupled to the housing 15, the blocking extension 16 is positioned in the entry section 11.

Assembly of the demountable reel with blocking device 1 of the invention is very simple and can be summarized as follows. First, the two semi-cylindrical halves 5 are coupled in the way already explained to form the central body 2 of the demountable reel with blocking device 1; next, the central body 2 is coupled to the discs 3, also as already explained; and lastly, each blocking body 14 is positioned in a respective housing 15 of the discs 3, the blocking extensions 16 being positioned in corresponding entry sections 11. In these conditions, the retaining projections 13 of the retaining sections 12 and the blocking extensions 16 of the blocking bodies 14 serve as follows: the first prevent the central body 2 from separating from the discs 3 in the direction determined by the longitudinal axis of the central body 2; and the second prevent the central body 2 from turning with respect to the discs 3, thereby preventing the transversal flanges 8 from moving to the entry sections 11 and consequently preventing the central body 2 from separating from the discs 3.

In order to disassemble the demountable reel with blocking device 1 of the invention, all that is required is, first, to remove the blocking bodies 14 from the housings 15, the through hole 18 of each housing 15 facilitating this operation considerably, either directly with the thumb or using an everyday tool or any other suitable element, such as a bradawl, for example, simply by pushing the fixed section 17 in order to remove the blocking body 14; then, the central body 2 is separated from the discs 3, by turning the central body 2 with respect to the discs 3 in opposite directions to those used to assemble the reel. 

1.- Demountable reel with blocking device (1), the reel comprising a central hollow cylindrical body (2) and two essentially flat discs (3) with a larger diameter and with central openings in the ends of the central body, the ends of the latter having transversal flanges (8), while each disc has a annular groove (10) with pairs of coupling sections positioned successively, there being no fewer than the number of flanges, each pair of coupling sections having an entry section (11), adapted for insertion and/or removal of the flanges from the annular groove, and a retaining section (12), adapted to hold the flange inside the annular groove, all this so that the movement of the flanges from the entry section to the retaining section, or vice-versa, is done by turning the central body with respect to the disc, characterized in that the coupling of each disc to the central body comprises at least one blocking device (4) with a blocking body (14) made up by a single part with a fixing section (17) and a blocking extension (16), said blocking body being adapted to move and couple onto one of the discs in a corresponding housing (15) used in the same way so that, when the central body is coupled to a disc, in a position in which the flanges of the central body occupy the retaining sections of the annular groove of the disc, a blocking body can be inserted in the corresponding housing of the disc, in such a way that the blocking extension of the blocking body is positioned transversally in one of the entry sections of the annular groove of the disc, restricting the turning movement of the central body with respect to the disc and consequently preventing the central body from being separated from the disc, unless the blocking device is removed. 2.- Blocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (15) used in each disc (3) to receive a blocking body (14) is made in such a way that, once inserted in the housing, the blocking body remains there without protruding from the surface of the inner face of the disc. 3.- Blocking device according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (15) used in each disc (3) comprises a through hole (18), adapted to receive the fixing section (17) of the blocking body (14), which has means of fixing by pressing in the through hole, said fixing section being accessible from the outer surface of the disc to facilitate the removal of the blocking body by exerting pressure from the outer surface of the disc onto the fixing section. 4.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each retaining section (12) of the annular groove (10) is restricted at its end opposite to that of the entry section (11), by a fixed stop, which forms part of the disc (3). 5.- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixed stop that restricts the annular groove by its end opposite to the entry section, is made up by a gradual narrowing of said groove. 